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[ Kiryu shakes his head. Firmly. ]

You can do it. I know you can. But you won't if you don't know that.

[ He leans back and crosses his arms over his chest. ]

No excuses. No halfway measures.

Are we doing this or are you settling for less?

I don't settle for anything, [ Hickey points out. ] If we're doing this, we're doing this. I'll give it my all.

I'll hold you to that.

[ Which is when he's going to hold up a finger and reach over to the liquor cabinet (or part of the entertainment center he uses that way) to get a bottle of sake and a pair of cups. He'll pour out for both of them and push one towards Hickey.

They're taking an oath. That means sealing this properly. ]

[ Hickey doesn't get the idea of sealing an oath like this. But as far as he's concerned, he's not saying no to a drink. ]

What's that drink? [ he asks, looking at the sake. ]

Rice wine. It's tradition, when making a pledge.

And today, we tie our fates together.

So today, we share a drink together.

How melodramatic, [ he teases. Tie our fates together. This should be a job for Kiryu. Nothing more. And yet here he goes, saying things like this. ]

Won't say no to a drink, though.

[ A job has never been just a job to Kiryu, which might be why he's very very good at most things he turns his hand to. But this? Has never been about the job. ]

I didn't think you would.

[ Is all he says before lifting his own glass. ]

[ Hickey holds his up as well, giving Kiryu a little nod. ]

To ourselves, [ he toasts, before taking a drink. Sake's honestly like nothing he's tasted before, but it's alcohol. It'll do just fine. ]

To your future.

[ And he'll drink his own with a bow of his head. ]

[ Hickey knocks back the sake as well. Once finished, he sets the glass down and looks over at Kiryu. ]

So. Warden. Figure now that we've drunk to this, let's get down to practicalities. I know you expect me to graduate. And I suspect you'd want me to continue working in the dining hall as you'd be on our own otherwise. But what else do you want from me? Weekly meetings, check-ins, anything of that sort?

My name's still Kiryu.

[ 'Warden' is not what you call someone you're working with. Something respectful would be accepted, but he's heard 'warden' used as a pejorative too many times on this ship to want that term. ]

And I don't expect anything of the sort. If you want to graduate, you graduate. If you don't want to, you don't. I told you this was about what you wanted and I meant it.

[ He dips his head towards Hickey. ]

And given we see each other most meal times, I figure we can have a discussion as needed then.

[ Hickey pauses for a moment, frowning. He's used to things being a bit more...structured than what Kiryu's suggesting. Not expecting anything of the sort is a bit odd.

Nice. But odd. ]

I can work with that, Kiryu.

[ A nod. ]

I won't use my item to find you unless I think it's necessary. Otherwise, I won't be looking to see where you go. And if you tell me to leave you alone? I will, within reason. [ He figures he should explain. ] Unless I think there's a danger you'll come to harm.

[ He crosses his arms again. ]

Part of freedom is showing you can handle it. Which means, if I start getting reports from other wardens about you causing trouble? I'm going to ask you about it. I won't play games. And I expect a reasonable answer. Not as a warden. As me. Then we'll figure out how to handle it.

Dick me around and I'll kick your ass. Fair?

[ Hickey nods. ]

The same goes for you. If this changes, if you start bothering me for no reason or abusing your power, I'll kick your ass as well. Doubt you will. But might as well get this on record.

If I do that, I might even let you.

[ But he stands up then, holding up a hand. ]

I promised you a weapon. I'll be right back.

[ He's headed for his bedroom and there's the sound of shuffling there.]

[ Hickey makes a little note to self: when Kiryu gives him the weapon, he should make sure to hide that little boatknife of his in his trunk, beneath all his other clothes. That way if Kiryu takes this knife away, he'll at least have a back-up.

Though Hickey, nosy-ass man that he is, is also moving his head juuuust so as he tries to peek into Kiryu's bedroom and see what it looks like. ]

[ From this angle, he can mostly just see the dresser, but Kiryu will come out soon enough with a few things cradled in one arm: a short knife, a longer blade, and what looks like just a handle. ]

I want to make sure you can protect yourself.

I'm going to explain each one, and you'll choose the one you think you'll be able to use best.

[ Hickey's eyes are immediately drawn to the short knife, but he pries them away to look back at Kiryu. ]

Let's hear that explanation then.

[ The first one he pulls out is a knife with a red blade.]

It's known as a Super Spicy knife. Any cut you make will burn like it's on fire. [ A beat pause. ] Because it'll be on fire.

[ Hey Kiryu?

What the fuck. ]

What the hell sort of knife can do something like that?!

[ Kiryu looks from Hickey, to the knife, and back to Hickey. ]

A Super Spicy Knife.

[ ....okay sure, that's a thing, they'll work with it. ]

Alright, [ Hickey says, a little skeptical. ] What's the middle one do?

[ If Kiryu says something equally stupid like 'if you stab someone with this, it'll also give them a black eye', he'll probably laugh out loud. ]

It's a sonic knife. Just the blade vibrates enough while it cuts to hurt more. It's good to make someone give up quickly and end the fight.

[ It looks like a basic tanto blade, with a nice lacquered case and grip. ]

[ Ah yes. That's sensible. Hickey has a look of disbelief on his face as he gestures to the last one. ]

And the final option?

[ He gestures to it. ]

It's just a very good knife. Good quality.

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